Problems in the History of Potosí

Abstract

When does the history of Potosi really begin? If 1545 is taken, because the Spaniards first exploited the mine in that year, we must recognize that there was an interesting prehistory of Potosi stretching back to the earliest explorations through the Rio de la Plata region and from Peru, when Spanish captains searched eagerly for the legendary Sierra de La Plata, or hill of silver.⁴⁷ The Guarani Indian invasion of the Inca Empire was perhaps motivated by the same desire. The semi-mythical Portuguese Aleixo Garcia in 1524 apparently reached the present site of Sucre with one of these expeditions; he may have learned of Potosi at that time.⁴⁸ Even before 1545, therefore, the mountain of silver hidden high in the Andes seems to have acted as a powerful magnet drawing men by devious routes from far-away places.